Apple's tiny tablet just received a second edition, if you haven't heard, and we have to pit it against the fearless rivals on the other side, the Nexus 7 and LG G Pad 8.3 to gauge how it stands against some Android competition.

At first look the Android tablets are flawless, with 1920x1200 pixels displays, which in the case of the G Pad 8.3 return slightly lower pixel density because of the larger diagonal, yet plenty for a small slate. The G Pad 8.3 is the thinner, more premium slab, with metal back cover and more powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor, which is reflected in the price, of course, as Google is not subsidizing this one - $350 vs $230 for the Nexus 7 munchkin.

So what's the iPad mini with Retina Display to offer against those two pretty boys, except the 400 000+ tablet-tailored apps that iOS has? Well, for starters, it is thinner than both the Nexus 7 and the G Pad 8.3. In fact, at 7.5mm, it is the third thinnest slate out there, period, behind only the first iPad mini and the Xperia Tablet Z. Now, we shouldn't forget that Apple achieved this with a body crafted out of aluminum, which makes it all the more impressive. As for power, well, there's plenty, since the mini with Retina is run by the first 64-bit mobile processor, Apple's venerable A7.

The kicker? That amazing 7.9" display carries the same resolution as the larger iPad. That's right, 2048x1356 pixels amounts to 326ppi pixel density, a record feat on a device that is basically all screen. Neither Nexus 7, nor the G Pad 8.3 can match this, but it's another question altogether if the premium design and the extra pixel density are worth the $399 starting price Apple is commanding for the iPad mini with Retina Display. Check out the specs comparison tablet below for the nitty-gritty and tell us what you think.

Pixel density - The pixel density of a display represents the number of pixels over an area of one inch. It’s measured in “pixels per inch”, or ppi. The higher the number, the more detailed and good-looking the display is.

324 ppi

323 ppi

273 ppi

Technology

Technology - There are two main screen technologies currently used in phones and tablets: LCD and AMOLED. The former usually features a light source and liquid crystals, while the latter is based on organic light-emitting diodes.
Newer LCD variations like IPS-LCD and Super-LCD allow for very accurate color reproduction and very wide viewing angles, where no significant image quality loss is observed.
Current AMOLED screens differ in such a way that they can exhibit much more saturated colors (sometimes too much) and incredibly high contrast levels, which is due to black color being completely black in AMOLED displays.

IPS LCD

IPS LCD

IPS LCD

Screen-to-body ratio

71.82 %

62.32 %

72.80 %

Colors

16 777 216

16 777 216

Peak brightness

300 cd/m2 (nit)

Camera

Camera

5 megapixels

5 megapixels

5 megapixels

Aperture size

Aperture size - The aperture of a camera is the opening through which light travels before it reaches the camera sensor. The smaller the number is, the bigger this opening is, allowing for more light to pass.

F2.4

F2.4

F2.6

Camcorder

1920x1080 (1080p HD) (30 fps)

1920x1080 (1080p HD)

1920x1080 (1080p HD) (30 fps)

Features

Digital image stabilization

Front-facing camera

1.2 megapixels

1.2 megapixels

1.3 megapixels

Video capture

1280x720 (720p HD)

Hardware

System chip

System chip - Most modern handsets use an advanced chip that includes many of the device’s hardware modules like the processor, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and sometimes even the wireless radio. This field shows what particular system chip (or System-on-a-Chip) is used in the phone.

Apple A7 with 64-bit architecture

Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064

Qualcomm Snapdragon 600

Processor

Processor - The processor is the main computing component of a phone and is a major factor when it comes to the overall speed of the device. Some more powerful smartphones use dual-core and quad-core processors designed to deliver greater performance.

Dual core, 1300 MHz

Quad core, 1500 MHz, Krait

Quad core, 1700 MHz

Graphics processor

PowerVR G6430

Adreno 320

Yes

System memory

System memory - System memory, or RAM memory is the type of memory that the device uses to temporarily store data from the OS or currently-running apps. The more RAM available to the device, the better the performance will be when multiple or heavier programs are running.

1024 MB RAM / DDR3

2048 MB RAM (Dual-channel, 533 MHz)

2048 MB RAM / LPDDR2

Built-in storage

128 GB

32 GB

16 GB

Storage expansion

microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC

Battery

Stand-by time

29.5 days (708 hours)the average is 46 days (1100 h)

Video playback

9.00 hours

Capacity

6471 mAh

3950 mAh

4600 mAh

Type

Li - Polymer

Li - Polymer

Li - Polymer

Not user replaceable

Yes

Wireless charging

Built-in

Technology

CDMA

CDMA - Code Division Multiple Access. A technique of multiplexing, also called spread spectrum, in which analog signals are converted into digital form for transmission. For each communication channel, the signals are encoded in a sequence known to the transmitter and the receiver for that channel. The foremost application is digital cellular phone technology from QUALCOMM that operates in the 800MHz band and 1.9GHz PCS band. CDMA phones are noted for their excellent call quality and long battery life.

2.Sauce (unregistered)

if price was the same i would be hard choice really, im in the android eco so have alot on money spent on apps and like the sync between my tablet and phone but the mini still has more tablet apps. if i wasnt stuck in the android eco and the 2 were priced the same i would probably opt for the mini 2.

9.Sauce (unregistered)

While I am impressed they put the a7 processor in the mini Not so much the retina as it was a necessity, the price is higher to the point you may as well get the iPad air! Still the nexus 7 is still one of the best tablets you can buy for the price and I love it!

Wait, Did the reviewer just say "The kicker? That amazing 7.9" display carries the same resolution as the larger iPad. That's right, 2048 x1356 pixels amounts to 326ppi pixel density, a record feat on a device that is basically all screen. Neither Nexus 7, nor the G Pad 8.3 can match this, "

using the same IPS screen tech the iPad min gives you 324 pixels ( as the chart shows) and The Nexus 7 323 pixels? Is the difference of 1 pixel clearly make the iPad mini the winner or would you take the price point as the winning factor? I don't want to start any flame war her but isn't the reviewer being a bit bias here.

Boggles the mind. I can't understand why such a statement would be said as it is misleading to a buyer because it seems that the reviewer is saying the pixel density on the mini blows away the Nexus 7 2013 when the spec sheets clearly show their even. Phone arena is being contradictory again. (now on the processor front that's a different story and the mini is the winner- even thought 1gb of ram won't help much in taking advantage of the 64 bit processor)
IMO- the mini just caught up to the Nexus 7. its a good and expected upgrade.

If you can see a 1 pixel difference, you should take off your suit and let everyone know your Superman! There is no difference in the PPI between the Mini and N7, other than the writers stupid statement, which is incredible to even read; how much did Apple PAY him to point out that really dumb insignificant difference! What a joke, a 1 PPI difference! Only an idiot would harp on a point like that; it shows what a knob the writer is!

Just state the facts. This tablet is on par with the rest, nothing special or life-changing. The simple fact that you're bragging about the screen (Which is 3ppi better than the N7) and about the thinness (Then point out how it's 3rd) are clearly you being biased. I'm just not going to read any more articles. Just looking at the numbers from now on in your reviews. This site is way too much like Engadget. Even Phandroid is not biased and will give Apple its props where it is deserved (and it's an Android site). 1GB of RAM is not enough for a power user... Just saying.

I got myself a G Pad for numerous reasons and I absolutely love it.
- I got tired of using the Apple eco (and ipad Mini w/Retina is way too expensive)
- iPad Mini is too expensive
- The N7 feels like a big phone, not a tablet,
- The G Pad kills the N7 in benchmarks
- G Pad has InfraRed (IR), so is my new universal remote (for TV, Amplifier, Lights...)
- G Pad has microSD
- Better battery than N7 (less than iPad mini though)
- 273ppi is more than enough, the bigger size screen overweights the 50ppi difference
- G Pad is only 1cm wider than the N7 and 1cm narrower than the Mini (more or less).
- G Pad is currently the most powerful/best Android experience on the market in a Google Play World (so Kindle is out)

I never use my iPad anymore, unless it's for a specific app/game I cannot find for Android

There's an LTE G Pad coming out if you really have a need for it.
Honestly though, paying extra to get a GSM or LTE version of a tablet is a pure waste of money (also count the extra internet plan that goes with it)
Most tablets sit at home 90% of the time and if not the case, since
we all have internet plans on our phones, and we always carry our phones with us -> Wifi hotspot becomes the way to go

1. Android or iOS
Definitely a personal preference. For me, iOS is unacceptable because of the restrictions. I want control of my device and I don't want Apple telling me what I can and can't do with it. Plus I have an Android phone and I want the same apps on my tablet. iOS seems to be more suitable to non-techies. So that eliminates the iPad.

2. Screen size. 7 inches is just too small. Around 8 inches is the sweet spot. That's a big minus to the Nexus 7.

3. Price. The G Pad is a bit expensive at $350. The price evens out a little when you factor in the larger screen and the microSD slot. I think the G Pad would be great at $299, so, when it hits that price, I'm buying.

For the price and decent specs, the Nexus 7 can't be beat. I like many things about the iPad Mini retina but at $599 for the 64GB Wi-Fi only version it's just too expensive. If I were to pay that, I would rather get something like the HP Split X2 for $649.00. Full Windows 8.1, 128GB SSD, 4GB RAM, detachable keyboard and a 13.3" touchscreen display. Would pair nicely with my 17.3" laptop.

I currently have a Nexus 7 2012 and am considering upgrading to the Nexus 7 2013. Damn that bezel is mega huge though. I do prefer the ergonomics of a 7" tablet as it's easier to handle one-handed, though I have sizable paws so I could handle the 7.9" Mini as well. If the iPad Mini retina were $399 for the 32GB I might consider it, but alas, it's $499.

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